TARGETS FOR BOMBERS

Southland Times, Issue 25358, 9 May 1944, Page 5

TARGETS FOR BOMBERS

BUCHAREST AND BERLIN massiveFattacks MADE

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 7. Allied Air Forces today main- ♦ tained their practically hour by hour pounding of Germany and occupied territory. The most massive attacks were against Berlin from Britain and against Bucharest from Naples. Pilots returning from strafing targets scattered over Europe reported intense cold, varying degrees of flak and practically negligible fighter opposition. The offensive was continued in the evening when, large formations of Allied planes, including bombers, streamed over the south-east coast towards northern France for an hour. The targets for the Flying Fortresses and Liberators in Germany today included Munster and Osnabruck, as well as Berlin, states a United States Air Force communique. Very strong forces of Thunderbolts, Lightnings, Mustangs and Canadian Spitfires and Royal Air Force and Allied Mustangs escorted them. There was solid, overcast cloud over the targets. The bombing was done by instruments and the results were not observed. Eight bombers and five fighters are missing. Two enemy planes were destroyed. The Press Association estimates that up to 2000 planes participated, making it one of the heaviest daylight blows against Berlin. The German News Agency says that the bombers took advantage of bad leather and dropped many bombs in the city area without ground visibility. Civilian casualties and damage were caused. At least 1000 people were killed, in Berlin as a result of Saturday’s air raid, says the Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper Tidningens. The Germans are talking about the Allies “condemning the capital to death.” MANY HITS SCORED

| Correspondents in dispatches from Italy say that Liberators and Flying Fortresses, attacking Bucharest today, bombed the main railway yards. Crews reported many hits, fires and explosions. , , Royal Air Force Halifaxes and Wellingtons, which bombed Bucharest last night, concentrated against the factory area in the south-western part of the city. , , . Correspondents state that the aircraft factory at Brasov, the only major aircraft plant in Rumania and the only one capable of turning out aircraft suitable for the Luftwaffe, was left burning after the Allied attack yesterday. Three of the four main buildings were hit and one was destroyed. Oil tanks nearby were also set on fire. It is estimated that normally 20 per cent, of the Rumanian oil products for Germany pass' through the Bucharest railway yards which is the terminus of the main lines throughout the Balkans. The Bucharest targets have been attacked six times before from bases in . Italy, four times by day and twice by "’flying Fortresses today attacked the Pancevo Bridge, 810 feet long, which carries the railway over the Tamis river 10 miles north-west of Belgrade, reports a naval correspondent. RAIL CENTRES ATTACKED Beating off determined attacks by fighters after their bomb run United States Marauders today flew their deepest penetration into the Continent to strike at the railway centre of Mezieres-Charleville, 135 miles inside France. „ , . Simultaneously, smaller forces of Marauders attacked the railway yards at Aerschot and Malines in Belgium, thus completing 20 attacks in the last ■ 30 days on railway junctions in northern France and Belgium. Royal Air Force bombers last night heavily attacked the important railway yards at Mantes, 30 miles northwest of Paris, says an Air Ministry communique. Other forces attacked ammunition dumps at Aubigne-Racan, 25 miles north-west of Tours and Sable-sur-Sarthe, 30 miles south-west of Le Mans. The objectives were clearly identified and the bombing was •well concentrated. Lancaster crews who bombed ammunition dumps told a dramatic story of huge explosions. A pilot who was in the Aubigne-Racan attack said that the aircraft bumped up and down, although flying many thousand feet above the dump.

Flames from one explosion shot 2000 feet into the air. Smoke then poured up from the dump and a quarter or an hour later had risen to 12,000 feet.

Crews who attacked a dump at Sable-sur-Sarthe said the whole target seemed to come up at them. The whole attack was over in 10 minutes. When the raiders left the whole target was in flapties.